Additional Reading

Why water efficiency matters

What's at stake?

The world's growing population is straining our limited freshwater supplies. Here in the U.S., the Colorado River reservoirs are only half full; the Southeastern states face serious water supply problems, and Lake Superior's level has dropped 2.5 feet. Costly water conflicts are being litigated between water users and even between states. The overuse of water in some systems has put fish and wildlife in peril, resulting in litigation and policy gridlock.

Climate change further complicates the water picture. The global warming we have already set in motion is likely to shift precipitation patterns. And the demand for water in some sectors, such as irrigated agriculture, could grow as temperatures warm.

Companies are increasingly recognizing —and experiencing firsthand— the potential risks of water shortages to their operations and supply chains as well as in the communities where they operate.

Why cooling towers?

Cooling towers use evaporative cooling to help lower the temperature in large multi-story buildings, including large office buildings and data centers. The cooling towers that serve these buildings can each consume tens of thousands of gallons of water per year; larger cooling towers can consume millions of gallons of water per year.